Hudson Institute Events Podcast

The Trump administration has vowed to make commercial engagement the centerpiece of a new United States policy toward Africa. Prioritizing “trade, not aid” in the US-Africa relationship is not a new idea. But previous administrations have tried and failed to make the pivot.Success will require a deeper commitment and understanding of the African investment landscape. Hudson’s Joshua Meservey will host a panel of investors with decades of collective experience in Africa. They will reflect on their experiences to offer lessons for future African investments, discuss what the US government can do to better support US investment into Africa, and examine how African governments can attract more external investment.

The Afrikaner community of South Africa has received significant news coverage in the United States since President Donald Trump announced he would grant members of the group refugee status. This and other issues related to the Afrikaners have been key stressors in the US–South Africa relationship and were major points of discussion between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during their recent meeting in the Oval Office.Join Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey for a panel discussion with the delegation. 

The recent assassination attempt against senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay and subsequent violence highlight Colombia’s deepening political polarization—a trend exacerbated by President Gustavo Petro’s divisive rhetoric and governing approach.Petro’s confrontational approach has met significant legislative opposition, with Colombia’s Congress voting down several structural reforms. Recently, the Colombian Senate blocked Petro’s proposed national referendum on labor laws, though the president continues to pursue the measure. Meanwhile, Colombia faces mounting challenges: coca production has surged to record levels, criminal organizations have expanded their territorial control, and the country’s fiscal deficit is growing.Enrique Peñalosa, who served two terms as mayor of Bogotá and is a pre-candidate for the country’s presidency, will join Hudson’s Daniel Batlle to examine Colombia’s political environment and discuss how to resolve the country’s legislative gridlock.

The Chinese Communist Party is using Hong Kong as a financial gateway to evade the United States’ sanctions and funnel global investment to mainland companies. Chinese firms increasingly list themselves on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, often to avoid the scrutiny required by US markets. This means that American investors may be unknowingly funding sanctioned entities or firms tied to human rights abuses. Americans could therefore face undue legal and reputational risks, especially as US-China tensions grow.Join Hudson for an event examining new research about how Beijing exploits Hong Kong’s unique position and why economic and political developments on the island matter for US policymakers and the interests of Americans.

Americans rely on satellites for everyday needs like banking, communications, and weather assessments. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense uses space assets for command and control, navigation, and missile attack detection. The protection of space-based equipment is therefore imperative for the security of the United States and the American way of life. But Russia and China have been actively developing and deploying weapons to target US and allied assets in space.Join Hudson Senior Fellow Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, the director of Hudson’s Keystone Defense Initiative, and Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, for a conversation about the threats to American satellites and the policies and programs necessary to defend US interests in space.

The United States will soon face two nuclear peer adversaries: the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation. But Washington designed its current nuclear modernization plan for a more benign threat environment with just one nuclear peer.Join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah L. Heinrichs, the director of Hudson’s Keystone Defense Initiative, for a discussion with Dr. Austin Long and Mr. Greg Weaver on ways the US can increase the credibility of its nuclear deterrent in a dangerous new era.

American universities have abandoned their foundational values. One visible result of this is the torrent of radical anti-American and antisemitic sentiment that has wracked campuses across the United States.Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, will join Hudson Senior Fellow Liel Leibovitz to discuss how faith-based education can show a better way forward for US higher learning institutions.

There has been an unprecedented surge of antisemitic incidents in the United States, including multiple terrorist attacks in the last several weeks: the murder of two Israeli embassy employees outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, and the firebombing of a peaceful anti-Hamas march in Boulder, Colorado.This surge is a major threat to American national security. These attacks are the result of deliberate campaigns to target American citizens coordinated by America’s most dangerous adversaries.Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East will hold a discussion to examine the current threat landscape and consider what steps Washington can take to protect America’s global security interests and ensure the safety of US citizens at home.

Singapore stands at the crossroads of traditional maritime routes and the forefront of rapidly evolving digital and energy infrastructure, making it a crucial partner amid great power rivalries and shifts in global trade dynamics. It is also a diplomatic locus, hosting increasingly vital gatherings like the Shangri-La Dialogue. This strategic position has helped Singapore forge enduring partnerships—including its vital relationship with the United States.The US-Singapore relationship is one of America’s strongest partnerships in Asia, built on decades of trust and mutual strategic interest. In the face of emerging challenges and opportunities, the relationship has extended beyond traditional pillars like defense and commerce into frontier areas including artificial intelligence and biotechnology.Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will join Hudson Asia-Pacific Security Chair Patrick Cronin to explore critical questions facing Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific.

The Trump administration finds itself with an array of foreign policy opportunities thanks to strategic shifts in the Middle East, in large part due to Israel’s efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and eliminate Iran’s proxy network, leading to new leadership in Lebanon and Syria. But other actors, including China and Russia, also seek to capitalize on the changing landscape in the region to undermine American interests.Michael Doran, director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, will join Senator James Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to examine opportunities, risks, and questions for the future of American foreign policy in the Middle East.